a blue and orange type of day: glass, dinner, birthday card

the day started soldering this sun catcher, design was inspired by the solo jazz piano of Vijay Iyer. Created by Wayne Stratz

Cherry tomatoes purchased at the Lansdale Farmers Market awaiting to be used in dinner. Photo by Wayne Stratz

Drew this for a friend who was celebrating a big birthday. I did celebrations. Colors inspired by her shower curtain. Drawn by Wayne Stratz

a few nights in the studio with Vijay Iyer going solo

Vijay Iyer Solo CD cover with a jazz doodled bookmark for a friend's daughter

It was 2014 when Margaret and I walked into the Hatch Center in Rochester. It had become one of our favorite venues in no time at all. Solo jazz piano in a state of the art (acoustically magical) setting. Vijay Iyer was the local boy that evening and his family and friends were there in good number. We squeezed in and found two seats.

Vijay Iyer inspired design, funky view to get violet shine. Design, Craft, and Photo by Wayne Stratz

We had learned of his music in 2010 when Solo hit many a best of the year list. So we sat and waited. Joy.

I drew a few cards to hand out at one night while listening to Solo. As I drew I thought of a friend at work. I know her voice well, especially the sound of it at 3:00 when students are called to buses. But the voice is not there this summer, so I asked for her address

Vijay Iyer inspired design, view with Dogwood. Design, Craft, and Photo by Wayne Stratz

The next night, I played Solo and I took pencil (and lots of erasure) to paper. I wanted a new design. I started over on a new sheet and went on and on as the music flowed. Solo. And before the music ended I stopped. Pencil and erasure were dropped. 

Glass was chosen and all was set before I hit play. Then it became together through solder. But my time in the studio was not over. When chatting with my friend, a thought came upon me. Why not draw a bookmark for her daughter. So once again Vijay Iyer filled my studio.

Vijay Iyer inspired design, funky view with Blue Sky and Dogwood Tree. Design, Craft, and Photo by Wayne Stratz

Blue Tuesdays: 7 Blue Mosaic Pendants by Margaret Almon

Blue Mosaic Pendant by Margaret Almon with a milleffiori 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

see her pendants on etsy

Blue Mosaic Pendant by Margaret Almon with gold smalti

Pale Blue Mosaic Pendant by Margaret Almon

Blue Mosaic Pendant by Margaret Almon with a Log Cabin quilt design

Blue Mosaic Pendant by Margaret Almon

Dark Blue Mosaic Pendant by Margaret Almon

 

 

Blue Mosaic Pendant by Margaret Almon with a dove designed by Wayne Stratz

Jazz doodling with glass ~> inspired by Melissa Aldana

At the 2014 Rochester jazz fest we wanted to see Melissa Aldana, but the line was excessively long. So we moved on. Eventually we ordered her CD. it played as I chose glass, grinded glass, and then soldered it together with no set pattern.

Check out all my glass jazz doodles

 

 

Three that caught my eye ~> glass by Rene Lalique

As seen at the Corning Museum of Glass.

 

No words : Plate Scenery by Ann Wolff 1978

As seen at the Corning Museum of Glass...

Plate Scenery by Ann Wolff 1978

 

No words for Rene Lalique's vase anguedoc from 1929 as seen at the Corning Museum of Glass

 See Margaret's Lalique

Dorothy Haffner's Aurora at the Corning Museum of Glass ~> 1995 fused and blown glass

Aurora at the Corning Museum of Glass ~> 1995 fused and blown glass

 

Dorothy Haffner created this with assistance of Lino Tagliapietra in 1995. Earlier today, Margaret chose the same piece to feature on her wordless Wednesday post. She chose the bottom, so I will feature the top.

 

My 1000th blog post: seeing the world through new glasses while hanging out with rosemary

Stratoz
sporting a new pair of glasses and one glove (?)
 and a most amazing rosemary bush

1000 posts on Stratoz, an enterprise started in 2007. I think a few were deleted, but most remain to help me reach a thousand ramblings shared on ~> God and Jazz. Glass and Science. Teaching and Gardening. Lansdale and Mosaic Woman. Food and Art. Probably some need some fixing up, but I am OK with an imperfect blog.

My posts are shorter these days but I think I still have the same focus. Celebrate the things I dig. Maybe it is a bit too diverse to get a rabid following from the masses, but I do have a fan base and for that I am grateful.  

I got new glasses on Saturday, much to the amusement of a friend at church. And considering the long week she had, I have no problem with bringing some joyful entertainment into her life.

This post does not show the 30 perennials I planted in the last few weeks, but it does show some Hostas that came with the house and may not be here when the next owner moves in. 

Violet and Green
Stratoz decided he needed some color

Q is for Queens ~ The A to Z of One Word Messages

Queens
background by Margaret Almon
Lettering by Wayne Stratz

 One of the more interesting commissions we have received at Nutmeg Designs was for six place names.  Fortunately for me one started with a Q. I can't say Queens is a one word message to me, but to many it will be. What one word takes you somewhere? 

Margaret has been blogging an A to Z of places that mean something to her.  Some are more than one word.  Some of them are places special to her from before I met her.  But some are names of places that bring back a flood of memories to both of us (plus she has been scanning some classic photos).  

Bethlehem

Dunmore

Illinois

Lansdale

Oregon

and

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Mosaic Sign
background by Margaret Almon
Lettering by Wayne Stratz

O is for Open ~ The a to z of one word messages

Blue by Wayne Stratz
Orange by Margaret Almon

Second day in a row of a letter that we have not ventured into, well at least to start a word.  All those Hopes had O's.  

But as I considered the word Open I grew to like it more and more and can imagine it happening one day.

• To be open to yourself so that you can be open to others.
• To be open to new adventures no matter the uncertainty to where it will take you.
• To be open to change, to refuse to be stagnant.
• To be open to what the other side is saying so that middle ground can be found.
• To be open to love.
• To be open to a God that may not be the God you have been told about.
• To be open to your part of disasters.
• To be open to those who want to know you.
• To be open to new music, new art, new neighbors, new bosses, ...
• To be open to your imperfections
• To be open to your talents
• To be open to challenges you would rather avoid
• To be open to the idea that your true self is ready to emerge.
• To be open that you must let go to find that true self.

Imagine being open.

Cell Cube with Purple Manipulation by Jiyong Lee

seen and photographed at the
Corning Museum of Glass

Ruba Rombic by Reuben Haley of Consolidated Lamp and Glass 1928-1932

Cool things do happen at shows

example of light dancing
not the piece mentioned below

Last week when I spoke to a gathering of artists about connecting with people on social media, I did not say that doing shows was useless.  I may have said they were time consuming and exhausting.  But I also clearly made the point that cool things happen at shows.

Saturday we were at a very local show which meant our very local friends could travel a short distance to see us and many did.  and that is cool.

A man was in our booth and was clearly taken by how the light dances about Mosaic Woman's mosaics.  We chatted a bit but as is often the case, he moved on to see what else would amaze his eyes.  (if you can't accept the fact that not everyone who thinks your craft is a delight will buy a piece... shows may destroy your soul).  I eventually went off in search of coffee and when I returned the man was back and had brought his wife (also note if you feel both members of a married couple have to adore your work equally, stay home and away from shows).

But in this case they were both smitten and chose to buy two mosaics.  OK, so that is cool.  But by the time they left our booth we knew his story.  A story about how fragile we are when a large wave crashes upon us.  How lucky we are to have someone save us and as he said, how many people can say their son saved their life.  How amazing we are in our ability to heal and recover in rehabs that know it is possible for more of your body to function, if the staff can get you to believe it yourself.  How grateful we can be for the years after being saved to celebrate the good things we would never had known, in his case grandchildren. 

Thirty minutes later I saw a man making his way about the show with a walker and knew  he was a happy man, who was ecstatic to be breathing, to be moving.  And that is a cool thing.

Wordlessly in Awe of the Glass Art of Harvey K. Littleton

as seen at the Corning Museum of Glass...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Images from Corning Museum of Glass

Wordless Wednesday: Three from the Memorial Art Museum in Rochester, NY

Wordlessly viewing the Water Gallery in Lansdale

Glass by John Hurd Jones.

Knight Fever by Ilene Pearlman.

Visionary Fusion Vessel by Aaron Wiener.

Thick as Thieves Jewelry

Ceramic by Young Kang

Pottery by Nicole Dubrow

Bette Conway Jewelry

Rainbow Starflower Mandala by Nutmeg Designs.

In Blooming Thunder by Carol Shearon.